NORTH ATTLEBORO — Superintendent Scott Holcomb announced during Monday night’s school committee meeting that the department’s statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Association for a feasibility study of the high school building was not selected.
Holcomb explained that 61 schools had submitted similar statements to the MSBA this past year in hopes of receiving financial assistance. Eleven of the submissions were chosen to move forward to the feasibility study stage.
If selected by the MSBA, a feasibility study is conducted to determine the renovation plan, expansion or building of a new facility and the district is subsidized up to 53 percent of the cost of the project by the state.
Holcomb recommended that the department continue to submit statements of interest for renovations, an expansion or possibly new high school.
“If we are going to renovate anything, to any capacity, it would be better to partner with an organization that wants to also give you a relief financially.” Holcomb said.
He also suggested the town submit a request for a new elementary school.
The superintendent is exploring the possibility of combining three of the town’s five elementary schools. Tentative plans would have the grounds of the Allen Avenue school explored as a site for a school that would house students in the districts covered by the Community School, the Amvet Boulevard School, and the Roosevelt Avenue School.
“As I am speaking today, the realization is not today, but if we were picked next year, this piece could take seven years to do.” Holcomb said.
The superintendent was advised by Diane Sullivan, the Director of Program Management at the MSBA, to continue to submit statements of interest to the association for potential feasibility studies as it can take multiple consecutive submissions for a school to be selected.
Monday’s meeting can be seen on North TV’s Government Channel: Comcast 98 and Verizon 23 and on the northtv.net website.
Click below to view Holcomb’s announcement.
